Defeat of the bill could revive the crisis atmosphere that ruled Congress and Washington this past summer when a last-minute vote averted a government shutdown.

Democrats opposed the $1.043 trillion funding bill because of a $1.5 billion cut for funding of an electric vehicle program. Republicans insisted they needed the cut to pay for the increased cost of federal aid.

However, GOP leaders signaled Wednesday that they might be willing to restore the electric vehicle cuts in a deal for Democratic support but tea party Republicans say they will still oppose the measure.

“Everyone needs to relax,” House Republican Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said after a meeting with other GOP leaders.